Wave-operated musical instrument



Feb. 3, 1931.

H. c. R. PECHADRE WAVE OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed April 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventorf]. HCfZPechadre m I 6 -4 7 m Feb. 3, 1931. H. c. R. PECHADRE 1,791,374 J WAVE OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUIENT Filed April 7. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figs.

Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES 11mm: CAMILLE ROBERT rncnanan, or Paris, FRANCE WAVE-OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed April 7, 1930, Serial No. 442,380, and'in France April 11, 1929.

The present invention refers to devices permitting theobtention of music by means of electromagnetic waves, by variation of the elements of oscillating circuits, coupled with a telephonic receiver.

Known devices of this kind are inconvenient to manipulate, involving the rapid fatigue of the performer.

The object of the present invention is a manipulator giving the performer all the desired convenience and allowing him therefore to play for a long time without fatigue.

This manipulator is characterized in that it comprises a support upon which the performer rests one elbow and theforearm, in

such a way that by turning the forearm substantially around the elbow, he can cause the hand which actuates the device for variation of the pitch of the sound emitted, to describe an arc of a circle sufficient to correspond to the whole scale of the sounds of the instrument. .f

Preferably, the manipulator forming the object of the invention, is completed by a device actuated by the other hand of the performer and controlling the intensity of the sounds emitted.

The accompanying drawing represents by way of example, one of the forms of construction of the object of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan View.

Figure 2 is an edge view, with a partial section along 2-2.

Figure 3 is a view analogous to Figure 1,

but on a smaller scale, showing the position of the forearms and the hands of the performer.

Figure 4 is a diagram of the whole of the installation placed under the control of the manipulato Figure 5 is the diagram of a detail modification.

Figure 6 is the diagram of another modification.

As represented, the manipulator is presented in the form of a box a having the general aspect of a circular sector with rounded corners. This box encloses a variable condenser b (Figure 4), the operation of which is to produce the variation of the pitch of this pointer carries a knob 12" at its extremthe sounds emitted. The rotor of the said condenser is provided with an operating pointer 6, external to the box a. A panel 0 is supported above the said pointer, and

ity, the said extremity extending considerably beyond the said panel.

The performer, having placed the box a upon a support A, in a slightly inclined position, lays the right elbow and forearm upon the panel 0 which constitutes a sort of desk. He graps the knob 6 between the thumb and the two first fingers of the right hand. By pivoting his right forearm upon its elbow, he can displace the pointer 6 over the whole extent of its stroke and pass from the lowest sounds to the highest. By simply pivoting his right hand around the Wrist, he can obtain easily small displacements of the pointer 12.

The left forearm of the performer rests upon the edge of the casing a (Figure 3).

The thumb of the left-hand bears upon the top of this casing and its two first fingers actuate the handle d, intended for regulating the intensity of the sounds emitted by the instrument, as will be seen hereafter.

The electrical connections given diagrammatically in Figure 4 comprise two triode tubes e e, placed in heterodyne circuits oscillating at not very high frequencies, of the order of 30,000 cycles per second for example. These frequencies have a certain difference between them, in such a Way as to give rise to beats at -audible frequencies, which beats are detected by the tube 6.

The circuit of the first tube e comprises the variable condenser b of the manipulator, the operation of which condenser varies the frequency of the beats and therefore the pitch of the sounds emitted.

The tube 6 is followed. by two low frequency amplifier triode tubes ff. The primaryof the coupling transformer f of the tube f is shunted by a condenser f.

In the plate circuit of the tube 7 is disposed a resistance i which varies according to the pull exerted by the performer upon the handle 01, and which regulates the intensity of the sounds. This resistance for example constituted by a capsule containing powdered graphite, more or less conductive, according to the pressure exerted upon it by a lever fast with the handle (I and acted on by an adjustable spring (not represented).

The manipulator selected as example coinprises also a special device allowing of imitating with the apparatus the sound. of inst-rulnents with plucked strings and more particularly that of the Hawaiian guitar.

This device is constituted by-a condenser of a capacity of the order of the microfarad and by a choke coil 7:, shunting this condenser when the push button contact Zis closed. The whole is mounted in a branch parallel to the line of the resistance 2', in which line there is disposed a switch m.

If, in the course of emission m is opened, while closing and opening Z, successive charges and discharges of the condenser j are prod need, which causes in the loud speaker sounds of which the intensity decreases progressively like the sound of a pluckedstring.

In this device, the choke Iacan be replaced by a condenser of a capacity many times that of the condenser y'.

This same device can serve for imitating the sound of the mandolin or other instrument with plucked strings, by substituting for the push button contact Z, or mounting in parallel with it, the three-blade contact indicated in Figure 5.

The two outer blades 1* 'r' are connected to the circuit; the middle blade 1', of greatcr length, carries an operating knobs. The

whole is maintained at a certain distance from the rigid counterpart 6, provided with a. knob u corresponding to s.

One thumb is placed upon the knob to and the corresponding index finger upon the knob s, then cadenced pressures are exerted upon these latter. The central blade 1" bends alternately in the two directions. It comes into simultaneous contact with the two blades 1 r only at the middle of its stroke, during a very short time. The brief and repeated closures of the circuit which result therefrom give to the sound of the instrument the charactor of the sound of plucked strings, like those of the mandolin.

It is quite evident that the invention is not strictly limited to what has been described and represented. Thus the electrical connections may-be different. They may comprise for example only one circuit oscillating within the limits of audible frequencies. Moreover, instead'of producing the variations of pitch of the sounds emitted by adj usting a variable condenser, another element in an oscillating circuit can be varied, for examplethe intensity of the-filament heating current of a triode tube. For this purpose (Fig. 6) there can be connected to the heating circuit in question, -a,conductor wire tenis such that equal deviations of the lever 29 correspond at every point in its stroke to an equal musical interval.

The handle at which is operated in order to regulate the intensity of the sounds may likewise be modified as regards its arrangement and its position.

The manipulator can form a group with a piece of furniture enclosing the electrical portion.

What I claim is:

1. A, wave operated musical instrument of the type referred to; comprising an adjustable element in an oscillating circuit, means for actuating the movable part of the said element with a hand, and a support for the corresponding elbow and forearm adapted for permitting the rotation of the forearm around the elbow for the purpose described.

2. A .wave operated musical instrument of the type referred to, comprising an adjustable condenser in an oscillating circuit, means for actuating the movable part of the said condenser with a hand, and a support for the corresponding elbow and forearm adapted for permitting the rotation of the forearm around the elbow for the purpose described.

3. A wave operated musical instrument of the type referred to, comprising in combina tion an adjustable element in an oscillating circuit, means for actuating the movable part of the said element with a hand, a support for the corresponding elbow and forearm adapted for permitting the rotation of the forearm around the elbow, and another adjustable element, in a circuit with means for actuating the moving part of that second element with the other hand, for the purpose described.

4. A wave operated musical instrument of the type referred to, comprising in combination an adjustable condenser in an oscillating circuit, means for actuating the movable part of the said condenser with a hand, a support for the corresponding elbow and forearm adapted for permitting the rotation of the forearm around the elbow, and an adjustable resistance in a circuit with means for actuating the moving part of the said resistance with the other hand for the purpose described.

v5. A wave operated musical instrument, comprising in combination, an adjustable element, means for actuating the movable part of the said element with a hand, a support for the corresponding elbow and forearm adapted for permitting the rotation of the forearm around the elbow; another adjust able element in an oscillating circuit with means for actuating the moving part of that second element with the other hand, a capacity of the order of the microfarad mounted in parallel with the line of the second adjustable element, a choke coil shunting this capacity, a breaker 011 the line of the said choke ,coil together with a breaker on the line of the element in circuit with means for actuating the moving part of that second element with the other hand, a capacity of the order of the microfarad mounted in parallel with the line of the second adjustable element, a choke coil shunting this capacity, a breaker on the line of the said second adjustable element, and on the circuit of the choke coil a contact comprising three blades the two outerof which are connected to the circuit and means for actuating the middle blade between the outer blades.

7. A wave operated musical instrument,

comprising in combination, an adjustable element, means for actuating the movable part of the said element with a hand, a support for the corresponding elbow and forearm adapted for permittin the rotation of'the forearm around the el ow; another adjustable element in an oscillating circuit with means for actuating the moving part of that v second element with the other hand, a capacity of the order of the microfarad mounted in parallel with the line of the second adjustable element, an electric element shunting this capacity and adapted for slacking the discharge of the same, a breaker on the line of the said electric element together with a breaker 0n the line of the said second element for the purpose described.

.In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRI CAMILLE ROBERT PECHADRE. 

